Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced that the heads of all of Ukraine’s regional military recruitment centres are dismissed from their jobs amid concerns about corruption.

Zelenskyy held a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine on Friday, August 11, 2023, during which he focused in on the regional chiefs of Ukrainian military recruitment.

He noted that across multiple departments, there are already 112 criminal proceedings against officials of “military commissars” as well as 33 suspicions.

He stressed that every “military commissar” against whom there is criminal proceedings will be held responsible.

Zelenskyy averred that the solution to this widespread corruption was to dismiss all the regional military recruitment Chiefs.

“This system should be run by people who know exactly what war is and why cynicism and bribery during war is treason.”

“Instead, soldiers who have passed the front or who cannot be in the trenches because they have lost their health, lost their limbs, but have preserved their dignity and do not have cynicism, are the ones who can be entrusted with this equipment system.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy disclosed that the decision will be implemented by Commander-in-chief, General Valery Zaluzhnyi. He added that there will be inspections by the Security Service of Ukraine before new heads of the regional military recruitment centers are appointed.

In a separate statement, Ukrainian presidency noted, “During the inspection of the territorial recruitment centres, law enforcement agencies exposed cases of corruption.”

It said that Ukraine’s general mobilisation was a key area in which inspectors had uncovered instances of foul play.

These “pose a threat to Ukraine’s national security and undermine confidence in state institutions,” the statement read.

It added that Ukraine’s security council recommended that the Head of the army select replacements who have battlefield experience and were vetted by Ukraine’s intelligence services.

Zelenskyy Holds Phone Discussions With Zambian President

Also on Friday, it was announced that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema.

The Head of State thanked his colleague for visiting Kyiv and Bucha in June this year together with other African leaders.

Their discussion was centred mainly on the Black Sea Grain Initiative and and preparations for the Global Peace Summit.

During the phone call, Zelenskyy invited Hichilema to participate in implementing the Ukrainian Peace Formula, more specifically, to join the preparation of the Global Peace Summit and to participate in the next meeting at the level of advisers.

“The Peace Formula is now more relevant than ever. This is the only way to a just peace and stability in the world that can be taken as a basis. And we are actively working with partners to prepare the Global Peace Summit.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The Ukrainian Peace Formula entails ensuring radiation, nuclear, food, and energy security, releasing all prisoners and deportees, implementing the UN Charter and restoring Ukraine’s territorial integrity and world order, withdrawing Russian troops and ending hostilities, restoring justice, countering ecocide, preventing escalation, and fixing the end of the war.

The Global Peace Summit is expected to be held in the fall.

Additionally, the two leaders discussed the need to prolong the Black Sea Grain deal and agreed that it is inadmissible to use food as a weapon.

“Together, we must put an end to Russian attempts to use food as a weapon, as well as to Russian blackmail of the world with hunger and high food prices.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Moreover, the leaders touched upon the issue of holding the Ukraine – Africa Summit and discussed cooperation in the context of other upcoming international events.